I've been participating in the margins on this debate between the Infinite Monkeys and Mitch on best 80s British guitarists, but I need to get my $.02 in this. RobbL is absolutely correct about Johnny Marr and Robert Fripp -- indeed, Fripp's latest stuff is just as good as the Discipline-era stuff. (Confession: I've been a prog-rock addict since first I heard "Roundabout".)

My favorite of the 80s (and to today) has been absolutely left out of this, though: The The's Mark Johnson. This site has a clip of him and Johnny Marr together, which simply cannot be missed.